Police say East Side burglaries may be linked to home improvement ruse

EVANSVILLE - Evansville police announced Monday that they believe an ongoing string of residential burglaries on the city's East Side may be related to people going door-to-door under the guise of offering home improvement services.

In a news release, police said they have received several reports from residents about people knocking on their doors in the evening and offering such services without any tools or signs of a nearby work truck. Investigators said Monday that they believe that the activity could be a cover for a burglary instead and have suggested the ruse is a way to determine if anyone is home, police said in the release.

Officials urged residents to report similar — and all — suspicious activity to authorities. In addition, they suggested that people document any valuable items they have — either by recording serial numbers or by taking photographs. Doing so will be helpful for both a criminal investigation and insurance purposes.

Warrick County Sheriff Brett Kruse said last week that his office has also investigated a rash of residential burglaries during the last six months, as well. Kruse said detectives from his office and the Evansville Police Department have discussed the possibility that the incidents could all be related.